Do Not Stand Idly By: A Jewish Community Pledge to Save Lives

This year, the themes of Sukkot - both the fragility of human life and the communal strength of a truly open tent - have an especially painful resonance. I am sure you share my sadness and outrage that in the past month five teenage boys took their own lives due to homophobic bullying and haras...

This year, the themes of Sukkot – both the fragility of human life and the communal strength of a truly open tent – have an especially painful resonance. I am sure you share my sadness and outrage that in the past month five teenage boys took their own lives due to homophobic bullying and harassment (and another in July).The loss of a single life is cause for heartbreak. Five teen suicides in just one month, however, is a crisis.This is a wake-up call that something must change and that the Jewish community must not remain silent.

Please see the pledge we are circulating below and sign on if you wish to make this public commitment. We’ve also posted a list ofTen Things You Can Do Today to Strengthen Our Community. Let’s send a message to everyone in our communities that we will not stand by in the face of suffering and injustice. Our goal is to gather 18,000 pledges by the end of the calendar year; we will publish the initial signatories on October 11, National Coming Out Day.This is a pledge we are asking ofallJewish community members, youth and adults, so please forward widely.

B’Shalom,

Idit Klein

Executive Director, Keshet

Do Not Stand Idly By: A Jewish Community Pledge to Save Lives

As members of a tradition that sees each person as created in the divine image, we respond with anguish and outrage at the spate of suicides brought on by homophobic bullying and intolerance.

We hereby commit to ending homophobic bullying or harassment of any kind in our synagogues, schools, organizations, and communities. As a signatory, I pledge to speak out when I witness anyone being demeaned for their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. I commit myself to do whatever I can to ensure that each and every person in my community is treated with dignity and respect.